Oceans governance and marine spatial planning in Australia

Australian ocean governance faces the challenge of sustaining a balance between marine resource use and conservation while dealing with pressing threats resulting from climate change such as sea level rise, fisheries food security, IUU fishing and ocean acidification. Marine spatial planning (MSP) i...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Australian Journal of Maritime & Ocean Affairs
Main Author: Vince, J
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: Routledge 2014
Subjects:
Online Access:https://eprints.utas.edu.au/22377/
https://eprints.utas.edu.au/22377/1/Vince%202014%20MSP%20AJMOA.pdf
https://doi.org/10.1080/18366503.2014.888137
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Summary:Australian ocean governance faces the challenge of sustaining a balance between marine resource use and conservation while dealing with pressing threats resulting from climate change such as sea level rise, fisheries food security, IUU fishing and ocean acidification. Marine spatial planning (MSP) is a way forward for dealing with these challenges in oceans governance. This paper examines a recent Commonwealth MSP initiative in Australia: Marine Bioregional Plans (MBPs) that are based on large marine ecosystems and provide the framework for the establishment of the National Representative System of Marine Protected Areas. Four MSP conditions are introduced: use of ecosystem-based approaches; spatial orientation; integration; and a multilevel policy framework. By analysing MBPs utilising these conditions, this paper outlines the challenges and accomplishments of this MSP process.